As an Easter treat, we have filmed a co-production with the wonderful Marquee TV of Bach's St John Passion.

The films stars Mark Padmore as musical director and tenor soloist and is filmed by eminent British cinematographer Grant Gee at the Battersea Arts Centre; an iconic Victorian Town Hall in London.

Bach’s St John Passion is not simply a beautiful piece of music, but a reflection on suffering and an attempt to make sense of it. Since our lives have been disrupted by the pandemic, the Passion now speaks to us from a fresh understanding of suffering, igniting in us a personal sense of compassion and empathy.

Our Chief Executive, Crispin Woodhead, says:

“I am extremely proud of this co-production with Marquee TV. This collaboration marks an important milestone in the digital creative ambition of the OAE and signals the huge value in partnership at a time when cooperation between organisations is so important for recovery of the artistic sector. Working with a major player like Marquee TV has a direct grass-roots impact for us – year 12 students from our London home in Acland Burghley School are studying the production process and developing the footage into a documentary vision of their own. This is truly a whole greater than the sum of its parts.”

Susannah Simons, Editorial Director at Marquee TV, says:

‘At a time when the industry has had to innovate more than ever, this is a wonderful example of a creative team rising to the occasion, producing something both musically and visually emotive and inspiring. For this work to be touching students so directly adds to its importance.”